28Synonyms found for captain

Word Origin & History

captain late 14c., "one who stands at the head of others," from O.Fr. capitaine, from L.L. capitaneus "chief," n. use of adj. capitaneus "prominent, chief," from L. caput (gen. capitis) "head" (see head). Military sense of "officer who commands a company" (rank between major and lieutenant) is from 1560s; naval sense of "officer who commands a man-of-war" is from 1550s, extended to "master or commander of a vessel of any kind" by 1704. Sporting sense is first recorded 1823.

Example Sentences for captain

Instruct the captain to draw every play on the ground.

Abandoning a ship in the open sea is the last thing a captain would order and a sailor would do.

The trick is actually getting your crew to do what the captain says.

Then, using the same pairs of photos, researchers asked the kids which candidate they'd choose to captain their ship.

It was the job of every pirate captain to determine what ships were worthy of pursuit.

The waiter agreed but what the captain did not know was the waiter took a disliking to the captain.

Until there is political leadership, this boat has no captain.

Others aboard were rescued, and the captain scuttled the sub because it could not be towed.

Next to the captain his word is law here, and he's seldom without something to say.

Some experts consider the ship's demise a fluke-it was built to ply icy waters and was helmed by an experienced captain.